06/03/2025
The United States Eventing Association, Inc. (USEA) Podcast just released a great episode with 5* rider and S-level judge Valerie Vizcarrondo Pride. If you haven't taken a listen, this one is worth saving! From warm-up strategies to scoring insight, it's full of practical advice straight from the judge’s box. Some are classics we all need to hear again, and others are the small details we tend to forget. Here are our favorite takeaways:
🎯 Before the Show:
• Know your test inside and out – not just the pattern, but where each movement begins and ends.
• Practice under the pressure of a dressage arena. Cones and paper letters are perfectly acceptable!
• Rehearse that 45-second window before your entrance – you’ve got more time than you think.
🧠 On the Day:
• Ride the horse you have today, not the one you wish you had.
• Warm-up strategy matters: how long does it take for your horse to move forward and come back, and how will that shape your ride?
• Track around in the direction you’ll enter, in case you only get one lap after the bell.
✨ During Your Test:
• You’re not a victim or a passenger – ride every stride and present your horse with confidence (even if you have to fake it).
• Accuracy = points. Hit your markers with the center of your body.
• Modifiers (those connecting moments between movements) count too! Grab that extra .5.
📋 What Judges Are Looking For:
• Harmony and effort – show off your best with what you have that day.
• Forward, balanced, and positive riding – judges want to see that you can use your leg.
• Make a strong first impression – use all the space A to set up a purposeful centerline.
🚫 Big Don’ts:
• Don’t wander aimlessly before your entrance – show you have a plan.
• Don’t cluck, talk, or school during our test – those will nab you 2 error points.
• Don’t let your hands take over under pressure – tension spirals fast. Maintain focus on your seat and legs.
📝 Afterward:
• Pay attention to the overall message of your marks – judges often repeat the same feedback in different ways.
• It’s one ride, on one day, in a long journey. Learn, grow, and move on to the next!
Remember, this is a performance! Show off your amazing horse and keep breathing. Thanks to the USEA for the reminder that the dressage arena isn’t about being perfect, it’s about being prepared, positive, and present on the day.
